Yolanda Díaz Will Not Attend Saturday’s Launch of New Left-Wing Alliance
Spain’s Vice President Yolanda Díaz has confirmed she will not attend events this week aimed at unifying left-leaning parties ahead of upcoming general elections. The move comes as several groups seek to present a united front against the conservative opposition.
Díaz announced Wednesday, February 18, 2026, that she will skip both a meeting this evening with Gabriel Rufián of ERC and Emilio Delgado of Más Madrid, as well as Saturday’s formal presentation of an alliance including Izquierda Unida, Más Madrid, Comunes, and Movimiento Sumar. “I will not be at this afternoon’s event nor at Saturday’s,” Díaz stated in an interview with La Sexta.
She explained her absence is intended to allow the various political factions time to deliberate and foster a sense of hope. “In both cases, because I believe It’s very important what can be forged today in Spain. Citizens require to give the formations time to decide what they want to do and generate hope. Those who want to go today, let them go, and those who want to go on Saturday, also. We have to enter a dynamic of breaking the emotional state of progressive people,” Díaz said. She emphasized that the focus should be on the project itself, rather than individual leaders. “It’s not about names, nothing is solved by talking about names,” she insisted, adding that discussions about leadership will arrive later, along with other logistical details.
The four parties plan to unveil their new coalition at the Círculo de Bellas Artes on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. Under the slogan ‘Un paso al frente’ (A Step Forward). The alliance hopes to attract additional organizations in the future.
The planned launch coincides with a separate discussion led by Emilio Delgado – who has been critical of the leadership of Mónica García – and ERC spokesperson Gabriel Rufián. That meeting, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, has generated significant interest as the two explore the possibility of forming a broader left-wing front. The move underscores the ongoing efforts to consolidate support on the left as Spain prepares for elections.
